A problem for ANY Vol coach is that "back to back 9 win seasons" will get you fired, even without a following 4-8 clincher. Jones had to do more than win 9 games.And those are really 8 win seasons with a minor bowl victory, so 4 losses, and to teams that are "rivals" in a sense plus that last 9 win season was supposed to be the "breakthrough" Vol fans wanted, e.g., an 11+ win season.Mark Richt was fired after successive 10 win seasons, so this is not unique.Pruitt of course catches a bit of a break coming off 4-8 where anything is likely better. They open with WVU in a likely loss and catch Auburn (away) from the West (with Bama) and play at Georgia and USCe. I can see a 6-6 record this year, mebbe 7-5 if they can edge Florida.The problem for Pruitt starts in 2019 when Vol Fans will be expecting an SEC East title, at least. UGA did that after an 8-5 year.
But the fact is back to back 9 win seasons didn’t get him fired or even have him on the hot seat prior to last year. I get that expectations in Knoxville are loftier than that but UT hadn’t those kind of seasons in almost ten years. Last year was a really bad look and I expected him to be fired but now UT is in on its sixth coach since letting Fulmer go at the end of 2008.
9 wins isn't what it used to be. With 12 games on the schedule now, the stick is 10 wins or better.
Oh, he was absolutely on a very hot seat prior to last year. VERY hot. Expectations were for at least winning the East in 2016, at least, and they didn't, and they had a couple lucky wins in that nine.Jones would have been fired had the Vols been 8-5 in 2017, he was on very thin ice.